Head of Supply Chain & Manufacturing Strategy

Ladders; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 230,000 - 303,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid vacation

Holiday pay

401K savings plan

Stock options

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Head of Supply Chain & Manufacturing Strategy for a leadership role in the Aerospace & Defense space, based in San Mateo, CA. The role focuses on shaping resilience, compliance, and scalable production for a regulated hardware business.

You will partner with regulatory, sourcing, and manufacturing stakeholders to drive onshoring and supplier decisions aligned with long-term goals. The position informs executive-level decisions by translating complex supply chain findings

Qualifications

• 10+ years in supply chain, manufacturing operations, or operations strategy.
• 3 years in a regulated hardware environment.
• Experience influencing component and supplier selection during design and NPI processes.
• Ownership of a multi-tier country-of-origin or trade compliance program.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with regulatory teams to understand and influence policy direction.
• Develop supply chain and manufacturing strategies for onshoring and vertical integration.
• Prioritize securing and onshoring supply across critical commodities.
• Assess production capabilities for U.S. facilities and build cases for integration.
• Maintain compliance risk assessments for product lines against regulations.
• Work with global supply managers during design reviews to set supplier-of-record decisions.
• Establish multi-tier traceability for components, including country of origin.

Skills

Supply chain

Manufacturing operations

Regulated hardware

NPI processes

Executive communication

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Head of Supply Chain & Manufacturing Strategy to join the team of a leader in the Aerospace & Defense space.

This leader will shape the supply chain and manufacturing strategy for a regulated hardware business, with a strong focus on resilience, compliance, and scalable production.

The role will partner closely with regulatory, sourcing, and manufacturing stakeholders to drive onshoring, vertical integration, and supplier decisions that support long-term operational goals.

You will also help inform executive-level decisions by translating technical and supply chain findings into clear strategic recommendations.

Location: San Mateo, CA - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $229,500 – $302,500 annually

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with regulatory teams to understand and influence policy direction
• Develop supply chain and manufacturing strategies for onshoring and vertical integration
• Prioritize securing and onshoring supply across critical commodities
• Assess production capabilities for U.S. facilities and build cases for integration
• Maintain compliance risk assessments for product lines against regulations
• Work with global supply managers during design reviews to set supplier-of-record decisions
• Establish multi-tier traceability for components, including country of origin

Qualifications

• 10+ years in supply chain, manufacturing operations, or operations strategy, with 3 years in a regulated hardware environment
• Experience influencing component and supplier selection during design and NPI processes
• Credibility with sourcing organizations and manufacturing facilities
• Ownership of a multi-tier country-of-origin or trade compliance program
• Experience with make-versus-buy or vertical integration analyses
• Proven ability to translate technical findings into executive decisions
• FAA Part 107 certification encouraged within 60 days of employment

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance plans
• Paid vacation time and sick leave
• Holiday pay
• 401K savings plan
• Equity in the form of stock options

Our client is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every qualification—your background could be exactly what this team needs.